Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five years increasingly relevant professional experience with at least two years in a management position.
• Experience in the area of purchasing services or contract negotiations.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and direct the work activities of others.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to project a positive attitude through excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree;
• Purchasing certification such as CPP or CPSM or similar.
• Experience with contract development, review and related legal issues.
• Experience with SAP or other integrated enterprise purchasing, logistics and/or accounting system.
• Experience in higher education environment.
• Experience in a unionized environment.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Plans, develops and implements policies and procedures related to various functions of Contracting & Purchasing Services.
• Manages staff responsible for contracting, purchasing, receiving, storing, moving, distributing and monitoring goods and services for the University.
• Ensures compliance with contracting authority on the University Contract Review Policy and Process.
• Oversees and conducts competitive proposals and bidding process.
• Collaborates with and guides University departments through the RFI and RFP processes.
• Negotiates competitive contracts with vendors.
• Manages supplier relationships.
• Prepares cost analyses on university spend and contracts.
• Supports feasibility studies on proposed projects.
• Monitors and coordinates grant funded activities as they relate to purchasing.
• Monitors and communicates applicable local, state, and federal statutes and administrative regulations to ensure compliance.
• Leads process changes to improve efficiency and to better utilize University resources.
• Acts as liaison between University departments and vendors/suppliers.
• Coordinates and prioritizes work activities for the Contracting and Purchasing Services units.
• Establish and maintain measurable performance metrics for all levels of procurement activities.
• Maintains department budgets.
• Manages other special projects as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others on our team. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve our leadership abilities and our demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU's culture of excellence.

Position Details

• Employee Group: Professional & Administrative -Salary
• Pay Range: $110,000 - $125,000
• Division: Finance and Administrative Services
• Department: Contracting & Purchasing Services
• Position Status: Regular
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• FTE: 1.0
• Position Type: 12 month
• Weekly Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed
• Location: Mount Pleasant, MI
• Open Until Filled: Yes

About CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master's, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men's and women's Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It's part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state's largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city's central location in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

CMU Leadership Standards

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU's mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials by September 30th, 2026.

https://www.jobs.cmich.edu/postings/45422

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.